Foot-power



(No Model.) I v '7 H W- S FOOT POWER. 4 No. 287,716h v Patented 0611.30, 1883;

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY W. POSZ, OF WINONA, MINNESOTA.

FOOT-POWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 287,716, dated October 30, 1883, Application filed April 12,1882. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY W. Posz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winona, in the county of Winona and State of Minnesota, have invented anew and valuable Im provement in Foot-Powers; and I do hereby that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference :being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a vertical sectional view of my foot-power, and Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the same.

This invention has relation to treadle mechanism; and it consists in the construction and novel arrangement, in connection with a shaft having two or more cranks, of two or more angle-levers having treadle-arms and upright arms, and connecting-rods extending from the ends of the upright arms to the cranks, all as,

hereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claim appende I In the accompanying drawings, the letter 8 designates the crank shaft, having two or more cranks, as at a, b, and c, which are equiangular in their relative position.

E represents a horizontal bearing or shaft, extending in a direction parallel to the shaft 8, but at a lower level and in rear thereof. Instead of a single shaft, several bearings may be employed, these being arranged in the same horizontal line.

0 indicates angle-levers, which are pivoted at their angles or knuckles to the bearings or shaft E in such position that their horizontal arms D shall form foot bearings or treadles, and their upright arms a shall extend to or nearly to the level of shaft 8. The number of are connected by pitmen P, which are each pivoted at one end to the upright arms 0 of an angle-lever and at the other end on the crankbearing. ployed in connection with three angular treadle-levers. In operatingthe movement the action of each lever is a pushing one, and by successively pressing on the treadle-arms D the cranks can be successively brought into action, communicating to the shaft a steady and even motion. In this manner a continuous pressure can be maintained on the crank-shaft, so nearly alike at all times as to overcome all deadcenters and hardly need the aid of a balance-wheel.

I am aware that a device for transmitting motive power has been constructed in..which a triple-cranked main or driving shaft is used and a like cranked driven shaft with three rockinglevers, the respective arms of which are connected by pitmen with the cranks of the respective axles, and therefore do not claim such construction, broadly; but,

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

A triple-crank shaft is usually emfori'ning foot-bearings, and the pitmen connected at one end to the upper ends of the crank-levers and at their opposite ends to the I crank projections of the shaft 8, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence 1 of two witnesses.

' HENRY W. POSZ.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. GALE, JAMES OBRIEN. 

